Velocipede



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(Nb Model.)

D. CROWLEY.

VELOOIPEDE.

No. 367,025. Patented July 26, 1887.

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(No Model.) I 2 SheetsSheet 2.

- D. CROWLEY.

' VELOGIPEDE. No. 367,025. Patented July 26, 1887.

Illnesses. I '11. venlar 3 ED M 12 fllzarmy' NiTEn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL CRO\VLEY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

VELOCIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 367,025, dated July 26, 1887.

Application filed January 20, 1887.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL CROWLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Velocipedes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improve ments in velocipedes whereby they may be propelled by drawing on a handle, as in rowing, or by pushing a lever forward, the pulling and pushing mechanism being under the control of the rider, so that he may employ either means of propulsion, as he may desire.

The invention consists in certain details of construction hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a plan or top view of a velocipede embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is avertical longitudinal section taken on line as a; of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the pawl-and-ratchet lever and spring for operating the same. Fig. 4 shows a modification of-the propelling mechanism. Fig. 5 shows a modification of the frames.

A A are the main or driving wheels, connected by means of a bent axle, :3, upon which a seat, 0, is secured.

To each side of the seat 0 are secured bars D D, that extend forward, and their outer ends are provided with sockets E E, through which are passed the ends of a forked frame, F, to which latter is connected at its forward end a saddleshaped frame or standard, G, connected at its ends with the axle of the steering-wheel H. The ends of the forked frame F are ad justable in the sockets E, so that the frame F may be drawn out from or pushed nearer to the seat 0, to adapt the velocipede to riders of different sizes, and when in the desired posi tion are secured by thumb or set screws 0.

I is aplatform for theriders feet to rest upon.

To the upper end of the frame G is secured a T-shaped'bar, J, against which the upper ends of the treadles K K rest. These treadles are hinged at their lower ends to a crossbar in the frame F, and a spring, L, is placed between the upper end of each trcadle and another cross-bar in the said frame F, so that when the rider desires to turn in either direc- Scrial No. 224,924. (No model.)

tion he presses his foot upon the desired treadle, which forces that end of the T-bar J partly round,and with it thesteering-wheel H. hen he releases his foot, the spring L will force the treadle to its normal position, and, the pressure being equal on both sides of the T-bar, the wheel H is also brought to its normal position-that is, for the vehicle to run in a straight line.

A spring, M, is placed around the upper end of the frame G- and rests upon a collar, 9. This spring supports the forward end of the forked frame F and forms an elastic bearing, thereby preventing or lessening the jar occasioned by traveling over uneven ground.

To the rear of the seat 0 is hinged a back, 0, which is held in position by means of bars N N,sccu red to the axle B or to the seat 0. The back is held at any desired inclination by bolts or thumb-screws passed through one of a series of holes in the bars N N.

The propelling mechanism consists ofalevcr, P, loosely connected to the hub of each drivingwheel A or connected to the axle, as shown in Fig. 3. To the lever P is connected a pawl, Q, which engages with a ratchet-wheel, It, so cured to the hubs of the wheels A. To each of the arms 0 of the seat 0 is secured a rod, S, the outer end of which is provided with a pulley, T, and to the outer end of each of the levers P is secured one end of a cord or chain, U, that is passed over the pulley T, and its other end secured to a slide, V, on the rod S. This slide is provided with a handle, o.

A spring, \V, is secured at one end to the axle B, and at its other end to the lever P, (or any other kind of spring may be employed,) to draw thelevcrl? back after ithas been pulled forward; and, ifdesired, the bars S may be provided with a groove in which a feather on the slide V fits, so that it may be guided in a straight line.

The outer end of the lever Pis provided with a series of holes for the attachment of the cord U, and it is also provided with a handle, 1), so that if desired to propel the vehicle by a pushing movement the cord U can be disconnected.

It will be seen that by this arrangement the vehicle can be propelled by drawing upon the handles '0, similar to the action of rowing, and if the rider should tire of pulling he can disconnect the cords U and propel the vehicle The brake is composed of a Hat strip of metal, Y, bent around the hub and secured at one end to the axle O, the other end being turned upward, so as to engage with a pin on an auxiliary lever, X, loosely secured to the axle C. By pressing upon the lever X the pin will cause the free end of the brake to be depressed and forced upon the hub of the wheel A, and thus check the speed of the vehicle.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a modification of the means of propelling the vehicle in which only apulling movement will propel. In this case I secure to the axle B an arm, S, provided at its outer end with a series of holes, to one of which the lever I is secured, and to the lower end of which the pawl Q is-attached.

It will be seen that by pressing the lever P forward the pawl Q will ride over, the teeth of the ratchet-wheel R, and in drawing the lever back the pawl will engage with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel and will cause the wheel A to be rotated.

In Fig. 5 I have shown the frames D F made in one piece, which might besuitable in velocipedes for children or when it is not desired to have the frame adjustable.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In a velocipede, the steeringwheel H, saddle-shaped frame G and forked frame F, with a spriug,M,interposed between the frames G and F, the outer ends of the frame F being adjustably secured to bars D, fastened to the seat, substantially as'shown and described.

2. In a velocipede, the treadle K, hinged to a cross-bar in the frame F, in combination with the T-shaped bar J, and springs L, intero posed between the treadles K and frame F, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a velocipede having two side wheels, A A, and a seat supported between them, the

combination of the lever P, mounted upon or 5 connected with the bar S by the cord U and slide V, the pawl Q, and ratchet-wheel It, substantially, as shown and described. f

4. In a veloeipede having two side wheels,

AA, and a seat supported between them, the

combination of the rod or bar S, pulley '1, lever P, pawl Q, ratchet-wheel R, cord U, and slide V, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a velocipede having two side wheels, A A, and a seat between them, the combination of the bars D D, provided with sockets E E, with the forked frame F, for adjusting the relative position of the seat, and the treadles K, substantially as shown and de scribed.

Intestimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DANIEL CROWLEY.

lVi tu csses:

CHAS. STEERE, E. PLANTA. 

